Advanced thin-film technology beefs up LED performance

San Jose, Calif.  OSRAM Opto Semiconductors Inc. announced new developments to its proprietary thin-film technology, enabling advancements in the luminous efficacy and color palette of its Power TOPLED line of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Ideal for automotive, signal and signage applications, OSRAM's Power TOPLED products now offer 150 percent more efficiency and produce a wide variety of red and yellow tones. New advancements in LED technology also enable OSRAM Power TOPLED products to enter markets previously reserved for conventional light sources, such as information and advertising display industries. These traditional lighting applications benefit from LED technology's higher brightness levels, as fewer light sources are needed, reducing lighting system energy and cost.

"The advancement of thin-film technology in OSRAM's high-volume, surface mount technology (SMT) Power TOPLED package portfolio enables lower profile, low-cost solutions to be realized with considerable improvement in light output at elevated temperatures," said Ellen Sizemore, director, LED Products Group, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors. "We are delighted by our continued efforts and success in creating innovative and highly effective LED solutions."

OSRAM's Power TOPLED product portfolio now includes yellow, orange, red and super-red versions ranging between 606 and 633 nanometers (nm). Previous brightness-level versions are still available as well, rounding out the company's line of Power TOPLED products for a wide range of traditional and emerging lighting applications.

Improvements to thin-film technology enable all generated light to emit through the top of the chip, resulting in higher luminous efficacy and producing red indium gallium aluminum phosphide (InGaAlP) LEDs that are bright enough for a wide range of applications. These high-brightness LEDs are ideal for rear light clusters and indicators on vehicles and for display panels for traffic control systems.

OSRAM will leverage its improved, innovative thin-film technology in its other LED product families, including the company’s Advanced Power TOPLED, SIDELED, Golden DRAGON and miniaturized PointLED. Enhanced versions of these products will be available in 2006.

Product data sheets and pricing is available through local OSRAM sales representatives at www.osram-os.com